Life is an exercise to express the InExpressible.

So are you all ready for video report? It is about Ganesha festival at Bangalore. Again Ganesha…:)

Shree Vidyaranya Yuvaka Sangha celebrated 46th Ganesha Festival, sponsored by Times of India – A leading newspaper. We had all kinds of entertainment programmes like drama, classical music, filmy music at APS college, Baswangudi, Bangalore. 5th September, 2008 we had Santoor Vaadan (play of a musical instrument named Santoor) by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Santoor and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma are synonymous. Why so? Watch this programme and find out.

The real programme is yet to be started. Meanwhile we had some devotional songs sung by singers from Art of Living organization.

“Vithal Vithal …” and “Narayan Narayan Jai Jai Govind Hare…”

Then all the dignitaries entered the dais, including founder of Art of Living Sri Sri Ravishankarji, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and his son Rahul Shrma. So we had some formalities welcoming the guest and lectures meanwhile volunteers brought AARATI at our seat. Sri Ravishankarji started his speech with Prayer chanting to lord Ganesha. He continues in Kannda. Afterwards we had informative question answer sessions about Ganesha festival tradition with Him. The anchors formally introduced Pandit Shivakumar Sharma with all his biography details. Prayaag is scared place in India where three rivers meet. Ganga Yamuna and Sarswati. On that evening we had musical Prayaag with three instruments. Santoor, Hindustani beats of Tabala and Karantaki Ghatak all three on one stage.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma reminded us that music is an integral part of Indian culture. Various musical instrumental associated with various Hindu Gods and Goddesses. For example, Ganesha plays Mrudangam, Sarswati plays Vina, Krishna plays flute and Shiva is origin of rhythm. He introduced Santoor – the musical instrument. It is an ancient instrument, came from Valley of Kashmir. Santoor means shata-tantri veena. A veena with 100 strings. Sufi music was used to play on Santoor. His father introduced classical music on Santoor. He has done many modifications to this instrument. Then he laid down the plan for that evening. First Tabala and Santoor. Then Santoor and Ghatak. Then all three. They will start with Rageshwari raga.

Our programme started with divine blessings from Sri Sri Ravishankarji. He talked about wisdom, knowledge and some less knows aspects of this festival. It ends with such a wonderful music by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Yes, you can enjoy the recap with these videos. However it was completely different experience to listen them live. JugalBandi of various instruments….It was like….like…like time had stopped. Nothing else except that music and rhythm. The entire audience just lost themselves in that music.

Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and his son Rahul, rarely performed together on same stage. It was really a feast for all music lovers. I made my friends to listen it live over phone. They appreciated it. Now I am sharing these videos with you all the readers of my blog. How is it? You liked it? Yes ? No?

Still few more video reports are in queue. They are about various events like other such entertaining programme during Ganesha festival, book release on Indian economy, Bollywood musical concert, poets meet etc. etc.. However next blog should not be about any video report. We need variety. What do you say?

So Stay tune and wait for my next interesting post and yes, do not forget to post your comments. Particularly, if you know Kannada then please contribute to this post by translating Sri Sri Ravishankarji’s speech and question-answers.

P.S. Santoor performance by Shivkumar Sharma at will be at Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan on 25th Oct. Times Bangalore Festival 2008